Aestelance Design Butter A balance between design and conditioning. Use it to texturize, define,add sheen, control frizz and intensely condition and protect from heat and sun. Directions: Work a small amount in palm and apply to wet or dry hair. For greater definition apply strand by strand. Many AESTELANCE(R) supporters wanted a hair wax to spike the hair, give it separation and texture, give direction and control frizz. With so many already on the market, could we do something better? We wanted to give therapeutic benefits to this product and by selecting Shea Butter as a primary ingredient we did. The benefits of Shea Butter for hair and skin are well known. For the hair, Shea Butter counteracts dryness, supplies and retains moisture, adds smoothness and is quickly absorbed without being greasy. It gives sheen and protects against outside influences. For the skin, Vitamin A and E help normalize it while keeping a healthy balance. Vitamin F helps to revitalize and protect it. We used a blend of natural essential oils for the fragrance to make this a very attractive addition to the Aestelance "DESIGN" product selection. BENEFIT STATEMENT - Excellent for sheen and frizz control. - Adds texture and definition. - Preserves moisture. - Exceptional conditioning qualities. - Good shield against humidity. - Delightful essential oil fragrance. Shea Butter, or Karite, comes from the nut of the Shea Butter tree, which grows naturally in West Africa. It produces its first fruit when it is about 25 years old and reaches its full production at the age of 40 or 50. The fruits of the Shea Butter tree resemble large plums, approximately 3-6 cm. The covering of the nut is edible and contains 1-3 seeds (the source of the Shea Butter) surrounded by a thin, brittle hull. One tree typically produces about 15-20 kgs. of fresh fruits, or about 3-4 kgs. of kernels. The fruits of the Shea Butter tree are harvested by local women. Traditionally, Shea Butter has been an important source of edible fat and a valuable material for many hair and skin care products. The pulp of the Shea Butter berries can be eaten when still fresh. The process of making Shea Butter starts with drying the Shea nuts in the sun. When dry, they are hand-pounded to crack them open. The cracked shea nuts are then boiled over a wood fire, while being constantly stirred, releasing the shea butter from the nut. After the Shea butter is released, many hours of kneading take place, transforming what begins as a thick gray fluid to a smooth, buttery ivory-colored paste. Another method is cold-pressing the nuts to release the butter. This method yields less Shea Butter from the nut, but all of the benefits are retained. Further refinement includes bleaching with natural earth and removal of all impurities from the Shea Butter, yielding an excellent, allpurpose skin and hair care product, known as Shea Butter. To remove unwanted components of flavor and odors, deodorization of the Shea is accomplished with steam.